Improvement in sheet-metal-seaming machines



d V6.11'. PEnKfNsf. `Sheet-MetalSealmi11g-Machines.

Patented April 7,1874.

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vUlIITED STATES' PATENT CEEIcE.

GEORGE H. PERKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, JOSEPH LE COMTE, OF NEW YORK CITY, AND ATLANTIC RE- FINING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL-SEAMING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,5 [6, dated April 7, 1874; application led,

' December 17, 1873.

CASE D.

To all whom 'it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. PERKINS, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Machine for Closing the Scams of Sheet- Metal Cans, of which the following is a specitication; j

My invention relates to devices for yclosing the joints at the junction of the bottoms and tops with the bodies of the cans used for the transportation and storage of petroleum and other iiuids; and the object of my invention is to insure the determinate action of the sliding dies B, so that they may perfectly close the joints `of the cans by forming the said dies with continuations d, and by combining them with a bed, H, as shown in the enlarged sectional view, Fig. 3, of the accompanying drawing.

The machine to which my invention is applied is sufficiently illustrated in the vertical section, Figure 1, and in the diagram, Fig. 2, whilch shows a top view drawn to a reduced sca e.

To guides on a table, A, are adapted four sliding bars, B, which are designed to act simultaneously on the joints of a can placed on the central quadrangular plate H projecting above the table, this bed being edged on all four sides with steel plates b beveled at their outer edges, and arranged to overhang the part of the table to which they are secured, as shown in the enlarged sectional View, Fig. 3.

The method of operating these sliding dies simultaneously, by depressing a cross-head, Gr, is too fully explained in a separate application for a patent .to need description.

The bottom m of the can-a portion of which is shown in Fig. 3-is placed on the central bed, and its turned-up edge is forced by the die B against the bevelededge of the plate b of the bed, thereby closing the same, within which is contained the fla-ring lower edge of the body of the can, a portion of which is represented at n, Fig. 3.

Whenever sliding dies have been thus used` for closing the joints of cans, each die has been constructed, als shown in the detached view, Fig. 4, without the underlapping continuation dthe bed H having a continuation, e, which extended beneath the die. When vthe beveled edge of the die closed against the seam, there was always a tendency to lower or straighten out the turned-up edge of the bottom of the can at a point immediately opposite the corner of the latter, the reason of which will be rendered apparent by referring to the diagram, Fig. 5, in which the line .r represents the outline ot' the corner of the can, the line y the outline of the die, and the line z the edge of the turned-upA portion of the bottom of the can. It will be seen that the corner 'of the can is slightly rounded, although the can is practically square, and that the die is similarly rounded at the corner.

The curve of the ange'z follows that of the corner of the can, and is described from the same center; but as the radius is longer the curve is necessarily greater, the consequence of which is that the distance between the corner of thedie and the corner of the flange is greater than that between the -sides ofthe same; hence the sides of the flange are pressed against the body of the can by the die before v the latter is brought in contact with the corner of said flange, the tendency of which is to so lower this corner as to cause it in many cases to be passed beneath the die, when the latter is constructed, as shown in Fig. 4; but .by forming the said die with a continuation, d, in accordance with my invention, as illustrated. in Fig. 3, this tendency is entirelyT avoided, and the corner of the ange, if lowered to a slight extent, is raised to its proper position, and pressed against the body of the can by the continued movement of the die.

AThe underlapping continuation d, moreover,

holds the die down to its place, and prevents the straining and loosening of the same.

I prefer, in most instances, to use a bed, H, having an overhanging edge, b; but for round or oval cans, which are free from abrupt corners, these overhanging edges may be dis'- pensed with, the can in such case resting upon the continuations el of the dies, as shown in the detached View, Fig. 6, and the pressure In testimony whereof I have signed my Y being applied at opposite points simultanename to this specification in the presence of ously. two subscribing Witnesses.

I claim as my invention- 1. The sliding die B, having the oontinua- GEORGE H. PERKINS. tion d, as and for the purpose set forth. 2. The combination of the sliding die B and Witnesses: its continuation with the bed H and its over- WM. A. STEEL, hanging edge b. HARRY SMITH. 

